ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION?

A new year is the perfect opportunity to teach your child about the importance of setting goals. Now that the winter break is over, it’s a great time for you and your child to discuss areas in which there’s room for improvement or continued success.

Try beginning the conversation by telling your child about your New Year’s resolution and then follow up by asking if he/she has any ideas for a resolution of his own. You may find that your child has a few ideas for a resolution already and he or she just needs some help clearly identifying and articulating the resolution and brainstorming ways to put the resolution into action.

If your child is having trouble coming up with something, one place to start is by bringing up the WCPSS Character Education traits. Your child should be able to tell you about the eight traits taught in school to instill values and build character. Character education is integrated into the school curriculum in each of our elementary, middle and high schools and may be used as the underpinning for other critical issues such as discipline problems, gang violence, absenteeism, teen pregnancy, and poor academic achievement. You can display the eight character traits in your home and encourage your child to pick out a trait to work on for the week, month or year.

Begin the New Year with Good Character

Courage
Good Judgment
Integrity
Kindness
Perseverance
Respect
Responsibility
Self-Discipline

Learn more about the WCPSS Character Education program by visiting the website.

POWER OF PARENT READ-ALOUDS

Without a doubt, reading to your child is one of the most effective ways you can help your child become successful in school and life.

Most parents stop reading to their children after they have learned to read, but continuing to read to your child is one of the best behaviors you can continue to do through your child’s elementary years.

Here are some guidelines for reading to your child.

IMPORTANT DATES

Online Intent to Return -January 10 is the last day to confirm if your child will remain at a school that is not his or her base school.

Student Assignment Public Hearings-Public hearings on the adjustments to the student assignment plan for the 2011-12 school year are at five high schools in January.

Magnet Open Houses & Application Period -The Magnet online acceptance period is February 14-28, 2011.

Emergency Operations Test Scheduled -The WCPSS Security Department will be conducting an Advanced Emergency Operations Training Session on January 24 to assess emergency response during a school shooting scenario.

STAYING HOME WHEN SICK

The season for coughing, sneezing and wheezing is here! We advise parents to keep their children at home if they display any of the following symptoms:

• fever
• vomiting and/or diarrhea
• headache and chills
• pain in muscles and joints
• sore throat
• coughing
• lack of appetite
• fatigue

Remember that the school policy regarding fevers is this: Your child must be fever-free (and not because of medicine) for 24-hours before returning to school.

HOMEWORK - FROM STRESSED TO BEST

The mere thought of doing homework is enough to send chills down the spine of many students and their parents. But the truth is, homework is an additional opportunity for students to practice or extend a skill that they have learned in class.

Many students, especially younger students, need as many as 24 exposures and more to a concept in order to master it. Homework provides some of this necessary practice.

Here are a few tips for making your and your child’s homework experience less stressful and more productive.